The Penang government has done well in implementing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment but the application fee imposed to access relevant documents is exorbitant, laments an activist.

 

Spokesperson for human rights NGO Suaram Ong Jing Cheng urged the state government to review the fee, which now stands at RM50 for information for the current year and RM100 for previous years.

 

Photocopy fee for the requested documents is RM1 per page.

 

"What if the copies we need run into the hundreds?" Ong asked at a press conference held at Komtar Level 3, where the state government offices are located.

 

"This may defer people, including poorer NGOs, from applying for the information they want," he said.

 

"The fee is 10 times higher than the charges imposed by the Selangor government, which is RM12 for each application, and 20 sen (per page) for photocopy," he noted.

 

"We agree to pay the fee but it should just be a symbolic amount," Ong stressed.

 

‘One way to monitor gov’t funding’

 

Ong was speaking to reporters after submitting applications for two documents – the George Town Financial Report for 2014, and the Penang Municipal Council's report on the top 10 highest density housing areas on the island from 2008 to last year.

 

Still, the FOI enactment is one of the important ways to prevent graft because the more information the public has, the better it is to monitor government funding, he added.

 

Penang is the second Pakatan-run state to enact FOI law on Nov 4, 2011, following the footsteps of Selangor, which passed its enactment on April 1 the same year.

 

There are 34 departments and agencies in Penang, not including those under federal jurisdiction, where the public can apply for access to information under the state law, he said.

 

He also urged the department charged with this duty to beef up its efficiency in dealing with the public.

 

"For example, when we submitted our application, the information officer on level 3 was at a meeting and I was told to come back later.

 

"Then I was told to apply directly to the concerned departments, and this will delay the process," Ong ( right) added.

 

"Please ensure that a staff is stationed at the counter at all times as you cannot expected the public to be sent away and told to return at another time which may not be convenient for some," he stressed.

 

‘Promote access to information’

 

Meanwhile, Ong also urged the Penang government to organise campaigns to promote access to information provided by the state.

 

He urged Pakatan-run administrations in Kelantan and Selangor, and the BN –led states to follow Penang's initiatives for anti-corruption.

 

When met, Information Officer on Komtar Level 3 Shahrul Nizam said the application fee is not refundable but students can file for exemption if they seek information for learning and research.

 

"They can submit a request or support letter from their learning institutions but they still have to pay photocopy fees of RM1 per page," he said.

 

Shahrul said the information counter will be closed tomorrow but the public can still obtain the application forms on Level 3.

 

The public can also proceed to Level 25 in Komtar if they are not sure of the departments to provide the information they seek.

 

Asked about the high application fees, Shahrul said that compared to the money spent on research which may cost thousands, the fee is affordable.

 

"But it may appear too high if one is applying for only one page. Still you can request for (a) lower (charge) and it is up to the relevant departments to comply with the request," he added.

 

On the time frame for information to be provided by the departments, Shahrul said it will take between 48 hours to one week for "life and death situations" and 14 days for normal circumstances.